Pick Your Leaves

To prepare for this test, head outside and gather some leaves or even some grass.  Two of the leaves we chose were still fresh and green, but we did find a nice pretty yellow leaf.  With the help of the internet, we were able to identify our leaves as Oak, Southern Catalpa, and Magnolia.  In addition to your leaves, you will also need a School and Science Fair Test Kit from TestAssured which has all the tools and equipment that you will need to perform the water tests.

Supplies

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies:

• Test Assured 4 Test Kit Set with TDS Meter
• 4 cups
• 3 different leaves
• Tap water
• Paper towels

Preparation

In order to make the leaf water solution, you need to crush or tear your leaves.  We tore ours into tiny pieces, put each sample in a glass and then added about 1/4 of tap water.  Once the water was in the cup we used our fingers to mash the leaves even more. Don’t forget to save one glass without any leaves for your control sample.

Now is a good time to label your vials and list the names of your leaf water samples in the results notebook.  You might want to write down some observations about your samples as well. For example, the water with the Southern Catalpa leaf had a yellow tint to it.  We also noticed that the Magnolia leaf had a strange odor once we started to tear it up.  These observations can be written in the “Notes” on the last page of the results notebook.

Testing

First, you will start with the test for total dissolved solids, using the TDS meter.  Because the meter will not fit in the test vials, it is easier to complete this part of the experiment while your samples are still in the cups.  To perform the TDS test, simply turn on the meter and submerge the prongs in the samples. Rinse the meter with clean water between each test. Record your results in the results notebook. Be sure to read the TDS meter carefully.  High readings will be noted with “x10.”

After completing the TDS test, you will need to pour your samples into the vials you labeled.  Do this over a sink and be sure to wipe up any spills, so you don’t contaminate the test strips. It’s ok if some of the leaf pieces end up in the vials.

Now you’re ready to get started with the rest of the tests. It’s easiest to work with one sample at a time.  Follow these instructions to complete the remaining tests.

Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

1. Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “ALK/pH/Hard”
2. Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
3. Dip the strip in the sample for one second and remove
4. Hold the test strip level and wait 10 seconds
5. Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for alkalinity, pH, and harness
6. Record your results in the results notebook

Total Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

1. Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “CL/CO/NA/NI”
2. Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
3. Dip the strip in the sample three times and remove – DO NOT SHAKE OFF EXCESS WATER
4. Hold the test strip level for 2 seconds
5. Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for chlorine and copper
6. Wait 45 seconds before reading the results for nitrate and nitrite
7. Record your results in the results notebook

Iron Test (Complete this test last)

1. Remove one iron reagent tablet from the foil packet and place in test vial (the reagent could alter the results of other tests which is why the iron test is completed last)
2. Place the cap on the test vial and shake for approximately one minute, until the tablet is completely dissolved
3. Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “Iron Test”
4. Dip the strip in the sample for 2 seconds
5. Shake the strip once and wait 60 seconds
6. Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for iron
7. Record your results in the results notebook

Repeat all three tests for each of your samples.  When you are finished don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water.

Results

Now that you have completed each of the tests on your four samples, it’s time to look at your results.  Ask yourself these questions:

• How did the control sample differ from the leaf water samples?
• Did one of the leaf water samples differ more than the rest?
• What results did you find the most surprising?

Record your answers on the “Notes” page.  If you are doing a science project, create a graph to show your results.  You can also use clear tape to fix the test sticks to the color charts to display your results.

Our hypothesis was that the leaves would change the composition of the water.  We suspected that they might change the alkalinity of the water or the copper levels, and they did.  What we weren’t expecting was how they would change the chlorine levels.  What was surprising here, was that the leaves actually reduced the chlorine levels.  Two of our samples reduced to chlorine to zero and the other cut it in half.  We aren’t sure exactly why this happened, but we did learn that chlorine is one of the nutrients that help plants grow.  Did any of your leaves reduce the chlorine in your samples?

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Most of us have experienced that terrible, sickly feeling after being in a pool for too long. That’s because it’s easy to swallow a little water while you’re swimming, and the chlorine that slips into your stomach can cause a serious stomach ache, and may even lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

The same thing can happen if your drinking water has too much chlorine in it. Chlorine is a bleaching agent that’s used to purify water, but too much is dangerous for us. So you should understand the way it’s used in drinking water and how improper levels can affect you.

The Dangers of Chlorine

Chlorine is a poisonous gas that’s found naturally in the environment. It was first discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheel, who mistook this gas for oxygen, which in its purest form can also be highly poisonous.

Humphry Davies properly named it in 1810, and also identified chlorine as a pure chemical element. In its physical form, it’s a diatomic green gas that’s extremely poisonous if you inhale it.

Davies was also involved in figuring out how to convert the gas into liquid form, which is how it’s used today for water purification. Though it takes a slightly larger dose to kill a human in liquid form, it’s still a poison.

That’s why too much chlorine in your drinking water can make you very sick or even kill you, although this is a fairly rare occurrence. What’s more, chlorine can actually react with the water and minerals in it to create other chemicals such as trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs have been linked to serious conditions in humans, for example: heart disease, asthma, eczema, and cancer.

The Necessity for Chlorine in Drinking Water

If chlorine can be such a dangerous substance when ingested, why is it a staple at all water-treatment plants? The short answer is that a bleaching agent such as chlorine is necessary to remove contaminants and protect your water.

Chlorine was deemed the safest and most effective bleaching agent for drinking water, and therefore became a standard in treatment plants across the U.S. On balance, it makes water much safer to drink.

We collect water from surface bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, and streams, but also from underground pools. Many, many contaminants may be found naturally in the earth, including bacteria and microorganisms that can make us sick or even kill you. But chlorine kills these contaminants instantly.

Also, after the water is collected, it runs through pipes that are not often cleaned. The pipes can be very dirty, and chlorine in the water helps to keep the liquid clean as it goes on its way.

Chlorine is also used in the treatment of water that has been shown to contain unsafe levels of a particular strain of bacteria or other dangerous constituents. There have been many reports of chlorine being used in an emergency to treat contaminated water.

Recently, a New Zealand town discovered that its drinking water was infected with E. coli, a toxic bacterium that can cause severe food poisoning and even death. For the safety of the residents, the management of the local water treatment plant chose to add a metered dose of chlorine to the water immediately to prevent infections.

Without the use of chlorine to solve the problem quickly, hundreds of residents might have become sick from the bacteria.

Is Chlorine Safe in Drinking Water?

Although chlorine is a poison, and the safety of drinking it can be questioned, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that chlorine in water is safe to drink in small amounts. Your body may build up a natural immunity to the gas over time that protects you from the negative health effects.

Even though it’s not an entirely safe chemical to consume, chlorine is a much better alternative to the array of communicable diseases that can be contracted through drinking water that has not been treated. Most cities will opt for the risks of increased chlorine in their water over a dangerous disease like E. coli.

Measuring High Levels of Chlorine

Though it’s necessary and safe in small amounts, you should monitor chlorine levels in your drinking water to protect yourself and family. The EPA warns that levels that exceed the regulated amounts will be harmful.

The agency’s conventions state that the allowable chlorine levels in drinking water may be up to 4 parts per million. This stipulation has a wide margin of error, so if higher levels of chlorine are mistakenly added, most drinkers will still be safe while action is taken to correct the error.

It’s worthwhile to note that water treatment facilities are responsible for testing your water, but they don’t always test often or accurately. The frequency of testing is directly linked to the quality of raw water and the population of drinkers.

If you live in a densely populated area with low-quality drinking water at its sources, the water is probably be tested every day. But if you live in a locale supplied with high-quality mountain spring water and fewer than 10,000 people, your water may be tested as seldom as once a month.

That’s when it’s essential to take water testing into your own hands. You can purchase water-testing kits from our shop that will specifically measure the levels of chlorine in your drinking water.

These tests can be more accurate than those used in water-treatment facilities because their tests only check the water in the plant. They can’t know what sort of contaminants and chemical reactions might take place between the time the water leaves the plant and when it reaches your faucets.

Testing your water often is the best way to enjoy peace of mind. If you discover that your water has higher-than-acceptable levels of chlorine, you must do several things.

First, stop drinking your water, obviously. Purchase high-quality bottled water instead. It’s all right to bathe and wash dishes in water with higher-than-normal levels of chlorine, but you shouldn’t ingest it until the problem has been addressed.

Call your water-treatment facility. The staff there can confirm the high chlorine levels and take proper steps to fix it and reduce the risk of customers getting sick.

Get Your Water Testing Kits from Test Assured Today!

Chlorine is just one of the many contaminants in water than can make you seriously ill or even lead to death if it’s not properly regulated. With our water testing kits, you’ll always know your water is safe.

We have tests that will check for lead, bacteria, pesticides, nitrates, chlorine, copper, iron, water hardness, and more. For more information about the many tests we offer and how you can achieve peace of mind with increased water safety, contact us today!

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